Swan slams News Ltd story

TREASURER Wayne Swan has rebuked News Limited after it published a story in several of its metropolitan mastheads claiming students visiting Parliament House would no longer receive bottled water and fruit snacks.

Mr Swan described the story as "completely wrong", demanding each of the newspapers publish a correction of equal prominence. In the case of Sydney's Daily Telegraph, that would be page one.

"It is entirely incorrect to say that a single dollar of estimated $235,000 cost of the service has been cut from the House of Representatives hospitality program," Mr Swan said.

"This service has not been cut and to suggest otherwise is dishonest and grossly inaccurate."

The Department of the House of Representatives released a statement on Monday revealing it had briefed the House of Representatives Appropriations and Administration Committee on the budget outlook for the department last week.

The provision for hospitality for visiting school groups was listed as a savings proposal, but the department decided on Friday that it would not proceed with that proposal and the service will continue in 2012-13.